TWO Walsall taxi drivers have been fined for failing to carry a wheelchair passenger in a safe manner after they were caught out in an undercover police officer operation.

Abid Hussain, 47, of Lumley Road, Chuckery and Mohammad Maksud Ali, 40, of Arundel Street have been fined a total of £1,800 after pleading guilty to failing to carry a wheelchair passenger in a safe manner.

Councillor Adrian Andrew, deputy leader for Walsall Council, said: "This sends out a clear message to taxi and private hire drivers in Walsall that they must respect the needs of every member of our community."

Walsall's licensing enforcement team had originally received complaints from members of the public who alleged drivers had failed to secure wheelchair users and were overcharging them for journeys. The council sent letters to all firms to remind its drivers of the need to guarantee passenger safety, particularly for wheelchair dependant passengers.

In the morning of April 28, 2015, an undercover West Midlands Police officer, who is a wheelchair user and an officer from the council's licensing enforcement team, booked a taxi from Starlight Private Hire for a journey from Dudley Fields Health Centre to Walsall Manor Hospital.

They had informed the radio operator that they required a vehicle suitable to transport a wheelchair user but the court heard that Hussain arrived to collect them in his London TXI Taxi and made no attempt to secure the wheelchair or fasten a seatbelt around the police officer.

He also left the officer facing sideways instead of positioning him facing the rear of the vehicle. Before the journey, the police officer said to the driver that he needed to be strapped in but Hussain said he was safe because the wheelchair's brakes were activated.

Despite repeatedly raising concerns to Hussain he failed to secure the wheelchair properly, even though the seatbelt warning alarm could be heard for the rest of the journey. Upon reaching their destination, Hussain was paid £7 but had failed to set the meter before undertaking the journey.

A similar sting operation was launched at 12.30pm on the same day. This time, a taxi was booked from United Cars, a licensed private hire company in Walsall for a journey from Walsall's Manor Hospital to the Tesco Superstore in the town centre.

Ali arrived in his Hackney cab and initially failed to safely secure the officer in his wheelchair. After a short distance, the officer informed the driver that he didn't feel safe and his wheelchair was not secure. The court heard Ali then pulled over and secured the wheelchair correctly and placed a seatbelt around the passenger.

Both drivers attended formal interviews with Walsall Council's enforcement team and confirmed that neither had secured the wheelchair passenger.

The duo pleaded guilty to carrying a wheelchair passenger in their vehicles unsecured and as such the use of the motor vehicle involved danger of injury to any person carried in it at Walsall Magistrates Court yesterday (Monday, December 14).

Hussain was fined £160 for the wheelchair offence, £20 for failing to bring the taxi meter into action, a £20 victim surcharge, £150 criminal court charge and £600 for costs.

Ali was fined £180 for the wheelchair offence, a £20 victim surcharge, £150 criminal court charge and £500 for costs. Both drivers also received 3 points on their licence.

Cllr Andrew added: "Most drivers in Walsall comply with the law and we commend the service provided, but we will take action where there is a failure to comply with legal requirements.

"It is essential that the public has confidence in the quality of service provided and that public expectations are fulfilled."

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Dundee taxi drivers have been threatened with the loss of their licenses after the city’s new taxi marshals caught them engaging in all manner of dodgy driving.

More than 100 complaints have been made in just three weekends. Since the scheme was introduced in November.

Dundee City Council has said it will investigate the catalogue of alleged breaches, which are said to have taken place at the Hawkhill/Brown Street rank.

Inquiries will be carried out into reports of dropping off at the front door of the Grosvenor Casino, on the adjacent roundabout and surrounding issues of queue jumping.

Dundee Taxi Association Chairman Graeme Stephen, who backed the introduction of the marshals, said the sheer number of complaints illustrates the scale of the problem.

He said too many city drivers believe they are “above the law” and said the consequences of breaching the terms of their licences were “on their heads”.

Any taxi drivers found to be in breach of the regulations will be interviewed by council staff and could be referred to the licensing committee.

Ultimately that could lead to offenders having their taxi driver’s licence suspended.

The two marshals hired by the council after months of false starts have been working on Fridays and Saturdays, between 11pm and 4am, since November 20.

Staff are provided by SGL security, with additional support from council officers.

Their presence will be boosted this week with someone at the rank every night in the run up to busy festive period.

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